The Wasp — 1878 — page 251: what you’re looking at

What you’re looking at

This satirical cartoon depicts a military or uniformed officer on the right holding a hat and collecting money from passersby, while a ragged street performer or beggar stands on the left. The title suggests mockery of someone using their position or status to solicit funds from the public—essentially panhandling while dressed in official capacity. The satire appears to criticize either military corruption (officers collecting bribes), or possibly a public official improperly extracting money from citizens. The contrast between the uniformed figure's formal dress and the act of "passing the hat" (begging) creates the humor, implying that those in authority exploit their positions for personal financial gain rather than honest work.